Weiner Will Keep Collecting $174,000 Congressional Salary While on Leave

A teary U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., admits to inappropriate conduct at a news conference on Monday, June 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) will continue to collect his $174,000 taxpayer-funded salary without interruption while he is taking a leave of absence to seek “professional treatment,” according to the House Administration Committee, which has oversight over the congressional payroll.

In a 365-day year, a congressman’s $174,000 annual salary works out to $476.71 per day.

The committee cited U.S. Code Title 2 Section 39. This law says, “The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives (upon certification by the Clerk of the House of Representatives) shall deduct from the monthly payments (or other periodic payments authorized by law) of each Member or Delegate the amount of his salary for each day that he has been absent from the House, unless such Member or Delegate assigns as the reason for such absence the sickness of himself or of some member of his family.”

Thus, the House Administration Committee had nothing to do with the decision to continue the pay, only confirmed that he would continue to be paid.

Weiner announced Saturday through a spokeswoman that he would be taking a leave of absence from his duties in the House of Representatives.

“Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person,” said spokeswoman Risa Heller. “In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map our a course of treatment to make himself well.”

Weiner, 46 and married, has admitted sending lewd photos of himself to women he met online.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has called for Weiner to resign from Congress, but the White House has stopped short of making such a call.

Rank-and-file House members earn $174,000 per year. The speaker is paid $223,500 and majority and minority leaders earn $193,400.

The House Administration Committee, chaired by Rep. Dan Lungren (R.-Calif.), oversees the day-to-day operations of the House.